Do you miss anything from your "old life?"

CCP

newlywed wrote: »

Most of all I miss M&S food and buying all their lovely fresh fruit and juices. I used to spend well over £50 a week just on fruit, juice and lunch nibbles in there

I know what you mean! I try not to go in Marks' at all now, except when they've got something like their meal for £10 offer - I just find it all too tempting!

newlywed

CCP wrote: »

I know what you mean! I try not to go in Marks' at all now, except when they've got something like their meal for £10 offer - I just find it all too tempting!

I don't even go in there then - I don't trust myself at all

White nectarines and lovely ready prepared fruit salad, rainier cherries.... lovely breads, farls, stuffed vineleaves... sigh.

I used to work 5 minutes walk from Simply Food and 5 minutes the other way from a proper M&S with food hall.

Now I work 20 minutes drive away from a HUGE M&S - and ban myself from going Won't even go to the huge Tesco coz they join together and I know between the clothes and the food that would be my grocery budget and clothes budget blown in half an hour

gizmo111

I think the thing to remember about OS, unless you really have a tight budget and debts to deal with that take priority, is it is to be enjoyed, and that is doesn't mean depriving yourself of treats or the odd meal out, but it also means for me that I enjoy those things far more now than when I was doing them 2-3 times a week. I also feel so much more in control of my finances and life in general seems more organised.
I think it does help if you enjoy cooking, luckily I love it and always have.

ceridwen

Reverbe

Just to wish you all the best in getting your housing situation sorted soon. I'll admit that I was taken aback at seeing the comment re looking on the bright side of potentially becoming homeless. Personally - if I were in those same circumstances and someone said that to me - I would probably have gone ballistic. There would certainly - at the least - have been a very sarcastic comment right back at them and I'm not prone to sarcastic comments normally...

On a practical note - I'm wondering what the possibilities would be if need be of squatting? (obviously only in, say, property the Council has compulsorily purchased and then left sitting empty for ages subsequently or such - before anyone flames me for making such a comment....:rolleyes:). I certainly personally wouldnt dream of contemplating someone's home - just genuinely unused properties. I dont know what the position would be as regards any effect on your income if you were to do that.......?

Anyways - just a thought and I'm just putting it because if I were in an equivalent situation and your age its a thought that would cross my own mind personally and hoping you will take it in the spirit in which its meant (ie trying to be sympathetic and helpful).

Take care....

Hope things work out okay for you.

mgardner

randomer wrote: »

Do you miss anything from the old pre OS life?
Personally after years of chaos I'm on top of the weekly shop which feels great.
I've found some great buys in charity shops.I don't eat out anymore and don't miss it at all.

On the down side I don't really see how we can economise on shoes and no holiday has left me rather weary. I'm wondering if it'll kick in as the winter sets in.

Interested to hear from other OSers.

I have been old style all of my life, born into and raised with it, War baby, I have found a way to economise on shoes, have had great bargains on ebay Brand new hotter shoes for a fraction of the price and carboots pair of hotter sandals for a pound, brand new clarks leather boots for 50p.Brand new Marks and Spencers Wool coat for 2poundf

Holidays are more difficult but group of pensioner friends have decided that a holiday is only something different to what u would normally do, and we have had
great fun using bus pass to go somewhere we would not usually go, using buy one get one free vouchers to have a meal out, courtesy of this site,

Best wishes to all

taplady

ubamother wrote: »

And if you did, I could knit her udder-warmers in exchange for dairy product! See how it all works out?

:rotfl::D thanks that made me smile:T

HariboJunkie

ceridwen wrote: »

Reverbe

Just to wish you all the best in getting your housing situation sorted soon. I'll admit that I was taken aback at seeing the comment re looking on the bright side of potentially becoming homeless. Personally - if I were in those same circumstances and someone said that to me - I would probably have gone ballistic. There would certainly - at the least - have been a very sarcastic comment right back at them and I'm not prone to sarcastic comments normally...

.

Actually Ceridwen I said what I did because Reverbe has often made a point of saying how unhappy she is with her current living situation. I simply thought that she could see what is happening as a catalyst for change. I was not aware that she would receive no help for her predicament. It almost seems as if you you are using your intense dislike of me as a poster to make a point of stirring. I'm sure you wouldn't be so disingenuous as to stoop to that though.
I honestly don't know why you take such issue with me when all I have ever done is disagree with some of your opinions . May I suggest that rather than make jibes about,and to me, when I disagree with you, you just pop me on ignore. I'm sure that would suit your pacifist nature better than this antagonism.

Pitlanepiglet

mgardner wrote: »

I have been old style all of my life, born into and raised with it, War baby, I have found a way to economise on shoes, have had great bargains on ebay Brand new hotter shoes for a fraction of the price and carboots pair of hotter sandals for a pound, brand new clarks leather boots for 50p.Brand new Marks and Spencers Wool coat for 2poundf

I was going to say the same thing about car boots, ours always has loads of clothes and shoes on it especially kids stuff. I struck lucky with a pair of boots (Next, heels and toes virtually unmarked) and M&S mules from the charity shop the other day £4.99 for the boots, £2.99 for the mules).

I get a real buzz out of getting bargains, I picked up two T&G Green proper mixing bowls at the carboot yesterday - I've been lusting after one for years and I managed to find two £2 and £3.50!

Primrose

Having been a Wartime baby, I suppose I grew up against a background of living thriftily and 'Make Do and Mend' because during that era it was a period of hardship and rationing for everybody. I was 13 before rationing finally ended, so for most of my formative years I assumed that to be a normal way of life. By then, I guess the principles of living economically and within your income had been subconsciously drummed into me. So like one or two others on here, that is my normal way of living and by this stage of my life I'd probably beconstitutionally incapable of living it up, even if I won the lottery. I feel very happy living the way we do. I hate waste. I like recycling, growing my own vegetables and am happy buying many of my clothes from charity shops. I can't even remember the last time I went out and bought a new lipstick so am afraid all the marketeers and advertisers don't make much money out of me.

gizmo111

Primrose wrote: »

Having been a Wartime baby, I suppose I grew up against a background of living thriftily and 'Make Do and Mend' because during that era it was a period of hardship and rationing for everybody. I was 13 before rationing finally ended, so for most of my formative years I assumed that to be a normal way of life. By then, I guess the principles of living economically and within your income had been subconsciously drummed into me. So like one or two others on here, that is my normal way of living and by this stage of my life I'd probably beconstitutionally incapable of living it up, even if I won the lottery. I feel very happy living the way we do. I hate waste. I like recycling, growing my own vegetables and am happy buying many of my clothes from charity shops. I can't even remember the last time I went out and bought a new lipstick so am afraid all the marketeers and advertisers don't make much money out of me.

This is interesting because it seems people from that era either felt deprived and felt the need to live well beyond their means and run up huge debts and felt they deserved a 'good life', or they became naturally cautious with cash and had still had a good life but one that was worry free. My ex in laws and my parents were of the same age but totally different in their attitude to money. My dad spent like there was no tomorrow, my mum was in between and my ex in laws have always been OS and continue to be now into their 80's, and still have a lot of fun. My parents sadly have both passed away, but my dad left huge debts and spent his last couple of years worrying about every penny, despite working hard all his life.